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Posted on: February 16, 2018

Three Alleged MS-13 Members Indicted for January 2017 Massapequa Park Preserve Murder

MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that three alleged members of the MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) gang have been indicted by a grand jury for the January 2017 murder of 18-year-old Julio Espantzay-Gonzalez inside the Massapequa Park Preserve.

Carlos Portillo, a/ka/ Picachu, 23, of Hempstead, was arraigned today before Judge Howard Sturim and is charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony). The defendant was remanded and is due back in court March 12. If convicted the defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.

Kevin Granados-Coreas, a/k/a Lonely, 19, of Hempstead, was arraigned on February 14 before Judge Howard Sturim and is charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-1 felony). The defendant was remanded and is due back in court March 12. If convicted the defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.

Laura Campos, a/k/a Salvi, 28, of Hempstead, was arraigned February 14 on before Judge Howard Sturim and is charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-1 felony). The defendant was remanded and is due back in court March 12. If convicted the defendant faces 25 years to life in prison.

“These defendants allegedly attempted to move up the MS-13 hierarchy by luring their teenage victim into the woods and brutally murdering him,” DA Singas said. “We are committed to holding these alleged predators accountable for this horrific crime, and will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners at every level to end MS-13’s reign of terror.”

DA Singas said on January 28, 2017, the victim, Julio Espantzay-Gonzalez, was brutally hacked with a machete and shot one time. His semi-buried body was discovered inside the Massapequa Park Preserve on March 23, 2017 by a man walking his dog. The defendants allegedly acted together to lure the victim to the park with the promise of sex and drugs.

The defendants allegedly believed the victim was a member of the rival 18th Street gang and killed him to gain stature in MS-13.

Two already incarcerated defendants will be arraigned on indictment charges related to Espantzay-Gonzalez’ death on a later date.

Carlos Portillo and Kevin Granados-Coreas were arrested by Nassau County Police on July 29, 2017 and August 15, 2017 respectively, and Laura Campos was arrested in Maryland on September 22, 2017.